<65> Here Comes the Challenge!

Chapter 65: Here Comes the Challenge!

Furuya wasn't the least bit upset by the provoking look from his team's ace.

As the saying goes, if you're not envied, it means you lack talent.

For someone as talented as Furuya, being challenged by a senior was perfectly normal.

Furthermore, such competition within Seidou High School's baseball team was something everyone enjoyed seeing.

The players from Kokai U Sagara High School were feeling quite energized.

Even though they had allowed one run at the start of the game, they felt their overall performance was pretty good.

Seidou High School's formidable batting lineup hadn't managed to get much of an advantage over them.

"It's just one run; we can recover that in no time!"

"Let's show those Seidou guys what we at Kokai U Sagara can do with our offense!"

As the first batter stepped up for Kokai U Sagara, he raised his bat high.

It was as if he intended to hit the ball as far as he could.

Meanwhile, the players in Kokai U Sagara's dugout were eagerly psyched up.

"We need to let Seidou know what we're made of!"

They seemed more than ready to go.

"They've definitely got fighting spirit!"

Crouching in the catcher's position, Miyuki could clearly sense how badly the batter in front of him wanted to hit the ball.

Because of this, he was determined not to let the batter succeed.

"With such a bold stance, can you really handle a tricky pitch?"

With this in mind, Miyuki decisively signaled Tanba on the pitcher's mound.

Even though the two didn't have a close relationship off the field, as teammates on Seidou High School's team, Tanba would not refuse Miyuki's call on the field.

In fact, he had quite a bit of trust in his talented junior.

"Whoosh!"

The white baseball flew out with a sharp sound.

Several players in Kokai U Sagara's dugout widened their eyes.

They saw the ball plummeting straight down from the high arc.

Their first batter instinctively took half a step back.

"Snap!"

"Strike!"

With this initial strike, Kokai U Sagara's leadoff batter felt a bead of cold sweat start to form on his forehead.

"That last pitch…"

From his perspective, the ball Tanba had just thrown seemed like it was going to hit him right in the head.

Who would have thought the pitch with such a steep angle would end up right in the strike zone?

Unbelievable!

Not only the batter but also the rest of Kokai U Sagara's players were taken aback.

According to their scouting reports, Seidou High School's ace wasn't supposed to be that strong…

Who would have thought he possessed such a fiendish breaking ball?

How Kokai U Sagara reacted didn't concern Seidou's team much.

But they couldn't help but care about their ace's performance on the mound.

"That was excellent!"

"Well done, Koichiro!"

"As long as you keep pitching like that, you're our undeniable ace."

Compliments rained down from his teammates.

They didn't hold back in praising their ace.

After pitching the first ball, Tanba sent another challenging look toward Furuya.

Though they could only see each other's outlines due to the distance, Furuya still gave Tanba a thumbs-up.

The game continued, and Tanba's pitching showed no signs of stopping.

"Whoosh!"

His second pitch looked even sharper than the first.

The batter from Kokai U Sagara High School could feel his scalp tingle.

It was partly from fear and partly due to his own frustration.

In the previous encounter, he had actually flinched.

This was the Kanto Tournament semifinals, with dozens of reporters present in the stands.

Not only had he embarrassed himself, but he had also embarrassed Kokai U Sagara High School's baseball team.

"Darn it, I can't let this happen!"

He couldn't accept this outcome no matter what.

At this point, even if the ball were to hit him, he wouldn't back down.

The batter gritted his teeth and swung the bat.

But by the time he swung, it was clearly too late.

The baseball descended early, passing through the strike zone into Miyuki's glove.

"Snap!"

"Strike!"

With two strikes in a row, the batter was at a disadvantage.

At this moment, Tanba on the pitcher's mound exuded an incredible presence.

Even against a strong and prestigious opponent, he showed no signs of backing down, confidently facing them head-on.

He was beginning to embody the aura of an ace from a top national team.

Spectators in the stands were surprised by Tanba's performance.

"I thought Seidou High School's real ace was that monstrous first-year kid. But their number one is quite impressive too."

"That sharp breaking ball is intimidating even from here. Imagine how the batter feels."

While people were discussing, Tanba launched his third pitch.

"Whoosh!"

The batter from Kokai U Sagara's team widened his eyes.

As the ball flew toward him, he put all his effort into swinging the bat.

"Crack!"

The moment the bat connected with the ball, a glimmer of hope flashed in the batter's eyes.

"I hit it!"

With the pressure of the previous missed swings, this felt like a huge weight off his shoulders.

But before he could throw down his bat, a swift figure had already reached the ball's landing spot.

"Here it comes!"

Kuramochi, like a cheetah on the field, reached the ball's landing spot and caught it securely in his glove.

"Snap!"

"Out!"

And just like that, Kokai U Sagara's leadoff batter was out.

His out provided a significant warning to his teammates.

They were not only facing Seidou High School's ace,Tanba.

They were also up against the entire Seidou High School's defense, which was as impenetrable as a wall.

Seeing this kind of defense, the players from Kokai U Sagara instinctively felt a sense of unease.

They began to understand.

Catching up to that one run wouldn't be as easy as they thought.

"Seidou!!!"

With the game ongoing, it was now Kokai U Sagara's second batter's turn to hit.

He stepped up and immediately assumed a bunting stance.

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